Shoe lacing



Nov. 20 1923.

W. ZAPIS SHOE LAC ING Original Filed Juri?) A 14 1922 I Suva/woz as, M www Cil ljatened Non. 2G, 1923.

nihil in l, legit@ Application filed June 14, 1922, Serial No. il. Renewed-September l6, 1923.

To @ZZ 'wwf/ t may conce/Mi.'

Be it known that l, VVILMAM Zarrs, a subject of the King of Greece, residing at 25 Montgomery Street, Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful improvements in Shoe Lacings, of which the fol lowing is a speciiication.

My present invention relates to a novel and useful type' of shoe-lacing, and has for its object a lacing which will be more readily, quickly and smoothly operated than the forms commonly in use, and in which shorter laces and a smaller number of eye lets may be used.

A further object of the invention as embodied in this lacing arrangement is toprovide a shoe that is more comfortable upon the feet, and in which the shape of the edge of the shoe of the lacing is maintained and the customary buckling avoided.

ln accomplishing these objects, l provide a construction in which the eyelets are placed very close to the edges of the shoe, and the edges of the shoe are suitably re inforced, so that the shape is maintained, and but a small amount of lace is held between the shoe and the foot when the shoe is laced, making the shoe more comfortable to wear.

My invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying. drawings.

ln these drawings, in which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention as applied to a high shoe, (although it is equally applicable to a low shoe):

Figure l is a perspective view of a shoe having the improved fastening device applied thereto;

' Figure 2 is a detail sectional view approximately on the line 2-2 of 1F ig. l, showing the manner of application of the invention to a shoe; and c JFigure 3 is a perspective view of one of the reinforcing and shape-retaining members.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout all figures of the drawings. l

Referring to these drawings, l make use of a shoe 1 of ordinary construction having the edges of the upper at the lacing parts spaced perhaps a little more widely from each other than in thevordinary construction. At cach of these lacing edges l provide ywhat l have termed loops 5. The loops 5 may be formed by securing to each of the lacing edges a strip of leather 2 folded as at 3, and preferably secured eitherv to overlap the edge of the shoe l, or place'l withinthe edge of the shoe and between the leather' of theshoe and the leather of the lining, the folded edge 3 of the stripV 2 bcing provided with a number of cut-away portions ll, leaving remaining between these points portions 5, which compriseV the said loops. These loops are provided at each point that it is desired to place eyelets 6 foi receiving the lace ll.

The members 2 are secured to theedge of the shoe l preferably by stitching. This stitching may, of course, be along the outer edge 9 of the member 2 and also along the inner edge, being curved out as at 10 around each eyelet, but otherwise following closely the edge of the shoe.

TNithin each of the loops 5 there is inserted a stiifening member, such as a piece of wire 7, which may preferably have its surface roughened as at 8 in order to furnish a substantial grip within the loop 5 and retain the wire in place. The eyelet 6 is stamped into place in the loop member closely adjacent to the wire sti'ening member, being thus as near to the edge of the shoe as possible, and yet reinforced by the wire member so that there is no danger of tearing the eyelet 6 outl of the leather.

Due to these stiflening members 7 adjacent to the eyelets, the number of eyelets required is greatly reduced, perhaps fifty per cent, six pairs suflicing as shown in the drawing instead of the usual ten or twelve pairs. rThese stiii'ening members further perform the service of maintaining the edge of the shoe comparatively straight and avoiding the buckling that often occurs between the eyelets in the ordinary laced shoe.

Furthermore, because of the proximity of the eyelets to the edge of the shoe, there is but a very small amount of lacing passing under the shoe from the edge to the eyelet, and pressing into the foot of the wearer; and the shoe is consequently more comfortable to wear, in addition to being more attractive in appearance.

By reason of thereduction in the number of eyelets, and also their particular arrangement and the assistance afforded by the reinforcing` strips or members, the shoe is much easier to lace and unlace in putting it on and taking it oi" than the ordinary shoe. When the shoe has been put on the toot, it is only necessary to pull on the ends ot the laces before tying, so smoothly does the arrangement Work; and after untying, the upper can be spread apart Without loosening the laces by hand, the laces being thus loosened to permit removal of the shoe.

Having nowdescribed my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. In a shoe lacing` arrangement, the comoination comprising a strip of leather folded and secured to each lacing edge of a shoe, 'the folded portion being cut at intervals to i'orm loops; reinforcing and shape-retaining members disposed in said loops; and eyelets bination comprising loops formed adjacentv each lacing edge of a shoe; reinforcing and shape-retaining members disposed in' said i loops; and eyelets secured in said loop members closely adjacent said reinforcing members. l l

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification. y

' WILLIAM ZAPIS 

